 |
 |
Hello everyone, Regarding the regard paid to editing; I have always insisted in my pedagogical practice that students watch, on the 'big screen' the film under discussion in the lecture theatre, that is to initially experience the work as a whole and importantly to critically engage with the film together. This used to be not only unproblematic, it was something that my students considered to be a bonus of the academic study. I now insist that students watch the film in a group on the 'big screen' because it now seems to be a skill. That is to sit for 100 minutes or so, in the dark, with no distractions (phones, chatter, food) is something that most of my students have to learn how to do! When asked to turn off their mobile phones most students either ignore the request or see it as some form of punishment. By the way, my experience of the Venice film festival over the last three years is that, despite the broadcast requests for mobiles to be switched off, it is clear that most critics and film professionals seem to think that this simple task is not directly applicable to them. At last years festival I sat next to an extravagantly dressed and elegantly bronzed man who continued a conversation during the screening of a film (not a particularly good film...but nevertheless) as though he clearly felt that his falderal was infinitely more important than the art laid before him. Editing perception...you'll be lucky. Can I quickly add that, of course, the rise of DVD and other forms of repeated watching has helped our practice no end, it is entirely possible that Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' will win the 'Sight & Sound' poll next year ( I hope it does, any bets???) and that its victory will be because we can; pause, rewind, enhance, zoom in etc. I, like Jonathan Richman, am in love with the modern world, if only in this circumstance. Peace Alan ________________________________________ "Before acting on this email or opening any attachments you should read the Manchester Metropolitan University email disclaimer available on its website http://www.mmu.ac.uk/emaildisclaimer " -- Film-Philosophy After hitting 'reply' please always delete the text of the message you are replying to To leave, send the message: leave film-philosophy to: [log in to unmask] Or visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/film-philosophy.html For technical help email: [log in to unmask], not the list -- Film-Philosophy journal: http://www.film-philosophy.com/ Film-Philosophy Conference (6-8 July 2011): http://www.film-philosophy.com/conference/ Contact: [log in to unmask] --